Impacts of COVID-19 on Environment

Abdullah Nadeem
2018-AG-7903
• Understanding The Topic
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of
coronavirus. 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' for virus, and
'D' for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as
'2019 novel coronavirus' or '2019-nCoV.‘

According to an unpublicised report from the Chinese

government, the first case can be traced back to 17
November 2019; the person was a 55-year old citizen
in the Hubei province. There were four men and five
women reported to be infected in November, but none
of them were "patient zero".
• Understanding The Topic
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization
(WHO) declared COVID-19outbreak as the sixth public
health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), and
on March 11, 2020, the WHO announced COVID-
19 as pandemic.

COVID Spread Bloomed in months causing the World to

change in an Unexpected turn from Economy to
Environment , From Conventional ways to modern
suddenly causing the People to adopt technological
advancements that weren't planned for even next decade.
• COVID-19 Performance Stats*:
Corona virus Cases:
65,200,441
Deaths:
1,505,989
Recovered:
45,180,920
• Theme Of Discussion
Impacts of Global Pandemic on
Environment:
This discussion will be fractionated in three Parts:
Pre-COVID Situation

Current Situation

Post-COVID Situation
• Pre-COVID Situation
Stating China:

Air Quality;
China’s national standard for presence of (PM2.5) is 35 micrograms,
though the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends levels of no
more than 10.
In December 2019 :
Xian -59 micrograms
Wuhan- 49 micrograms
Beijing- 42 micrograms

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant

• Pollution Factors
Pre-COVID Situation
There are four main types of Environmental Polluting sources:
 mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and
trains
stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries,
industrial facilities, and factories
area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood
burning fireplaces
natural sources – such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and
volcanoes
All of them were opreational
• Current Situation
 China saw average concentrations of lung-damaging airborne
particles known as PM2.5 fall by 10.8% from January to July as
industry slowed because of the coronavirus.

 The global reduction in modern human activity such as the

considerable decline in planned travel was coined anthropauseand
has caused a large drop in air pollution and water pollution in many
regions. 

In China, lockdowns and other measures resulted in a 25 percent

reduction in carbon emissions and 50 percent reduction in nitrogen
oxides emissions, which one Earth systems scientist estimated may
have saved at least 77,000 lives over two months.
• Current Situation
The outbreak has also provided cover for illegal activities such as 
deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and poaching in
Africa, hindered environmental diplomacy efforts, and created 
economic fallout that some predict will slow investment in 
green energy technologies.
Improved Air Quality
A joint research led by scientists from China and U.S. estimated that
nitrogen oxides (NOx=NO+NO2) emissions decreased by 50% in
East China from 23 January (Wuhan lockdown) to 9 February 2020
in comparison to the period from 1 to 22 January 2020. Emissions
then increased by 26% from 10 February (back-to-work day) to 12
March 2020, indicating possible increasing socioeconomic
activities after most provinces allowed businesses to open
• Current Situation
Water Quality
In Venice, The increase in water clarity was due to
the settling of sediment that is disturbed by boat
traffic and mentioned the decrease in air pollution
along the waterways.
WildLife
 Increase in Fish Biomass
 Wild Animals were seen in Cities
 Ban on Bat and Pangolin Meet Consuption
 Allowing breeding of endangered species
• Current Situation
Deforestation and reforestation

Amazon Deforestation Cover

Pakistan's 10 billion Tree
Tsunami
• Post-COVID Situation
Its Unpredictable
Pollution Levels will drop back to normal
No Government is Concerned about
Environmental Changes
People will Forget what happened
It will become a lesson of history
Pollution levels will break all old record
 Questions

Or

Suggestions?
Hoping For Our World to be Safer,
Cleaner and A better Place to
Live

Thank You So Much